No-show at wind conference betrays government priorities

TORONTO – The Green Party is asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to explain why the federal government has declined multiple invitations to participate the 7th Annual World Wind Energy Conference beginning today in Kingston, Ontario. The conference will bring together government, industry and other organizations from across the globe to discuss wind energy development, power autonomy for communities and the role of wind in combating climate change.

“The Harper government’s refusal to participate in the World Wind Energy Conference, while embarrassing, is very revealing of government priorities,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “At a time when Canada lags behind other nations in developing our renewable energy potential, this snub of a burgeoning industry makes no sense.”

This marks the first time the conference has been held in North America. Dr. David Suzuki will address attendees, as well as Nobel Prize winner Dr. Hermann Scheer, a wind energy expert. Several Ontario provincial ministers will attend along with researchers, academics, environmental non-governmental organizations, Aboriginal representatives and community stakeholders.

“This conference provides a unique opportunity for the federal government to collaborate with other policy makers and industry representatives to learn how best to increase wind energy capacity in Canada,” said Ms. May. “Canadians and Canada would be far better off if Mr. Harper stopped concentrating on attack ads and distortions and chose instead to engage positively in helping shift Canada’s economy to a low carbon future.

“Ignoring the World Wind Energy Conference is a mistake but unfortunately fits a pattern of behaviour that we have seen from the Harper government, which has thus far presented a fraudulent plan that allows greenhouse gas emissions to rise while attacking the proposals of others to actually deliver results.”